The U.S.
Justice Department late Wednesday afternoon gave its approval -- or preclearance -- to
Alaska's new redistricting plan. Alaska Redistricting Board Chair Taylor
Bickford says the Amended Proclamation Plan can now be used as a voting map for
the November elections.

The DOJ
approval came in the form of a letter to the Redistricting Board. The move does
not bar subsequent litigation, but it does make moot a pending lawsuit that was
to have been heard today (Thursday) in federal court. That suit hinged on a
complaint that the state division of elections was going forward with election
plans before the DOJ approved the new redistricting map.